The recent appointment of Igor Tudor at Tottenham Hotspur may have seemed like a swift reaction to a crisis, but the reality behind the scenes reveals a much more complex and calculated search for a new leader. While Tudor is now the man tasked with steering the club through the remainder of a turbulent season, it has emerged that he was not necessarily the first name on the board’s wishlist.
Before the club finalized terms with the former Juventus coach, they reportedly looked toward South America, specifically aiming to lure Abel Ferreira away from his highly successful project at Palmeiras.
According to reports surfacing from Brazil, Tottenham’s recruitment team made contact with Ferreira’s representatives about two weeks ago. What makes this timing particularly interesting is that the approach happened before Thomas Frank was officially dismissed.
This suggests that the decision-makers in North London had already accepted that a change was inevitable. With the team languishing in 16th place and the threat of a relegation battle becoming far too real, the club’s leadership was already deep into contingency planning while Frank was still technically in the dugout.
Abel Ferreira has built a massive reputation in Brazil, turning Palmeiras into a dominant force. His tactical discipline and ability to handle high-pressure environments made him a natural target for a club like Spurs, which is currently desperate for a sense of identity.
However, the Portuguese manager chose not to even open formal discussions with the Premier League side. Having recently extended his contract in Brazil until the end of 2027, Ferreira appears to be a man who values stability and long-term projects over the immediate allure of a job in England’s top flight.
Finances certainly play a role in why Ferreira is so difficult to move. He currently earns approximately £460,000 per month at Palmeiras. While Premier League clubs are among the wealthiest in the world, matching that kind of salary for a manager who has yet to prove himself in Europe is a significant commitment.
More importantly, Ferreira is known to be a character who prioritizes organizational structure and clear planning. For a manager who values a stable foundation, the current chaos at Tottenham marked by frequent managerial changes and a lack of consistent on-field results likely seemed like an unattractive gamble.
This was not the first time Ferreira has caught the eye of English clubs. His success in South America has led to interest from Nottingham Forest, Wolves, and even Chelsea in recent months.
Each time, he has remained loyal to his current role, signaling that it would take something truly special to pull him away from a place where he is deeply settled and respected. For Tottenham, this rejection forced them to broaden their search, leading to a list of candidates that included Robbie Keane, Roberto De Zerbi, and Marco Rose.
Ultimately, after weighing their options and facing several hurdles with their top choices, the board settled on Igor Tudor. The decision to bring in the Croatian on an interim basis until May allows the club to pause and reset. It is a strategic move that provides a short-term fix while keeping the door open for a high-profile, permanent appointment in the summer.
Tudor brings a wealth of European experience and a reputation for being a “firefighter” who can stabilize a leaking ship, which is exactly what the fans are crying out for after a dismal run of form.
| Potential Candidate | Current Status | Notes |
| Abel Ferreira | Palmeiras Manager | Rejected Spurs’ approach; values stability. |
| Roberto De Zerbi | Free Agent | Recently left Marseille; heavily linked. |
| Robbie Keane | Ferencváros Manager | Former Spurs legend; identified as interim option. |
| Marco Rose | Free Agent | Previously at RB Leipzig; high-profile target. |
| Igor Tudor | Tottenham (Interim) | Appointed until the end of the season. |
The fact that Spurs were looking at Ferreira while Frank was still in charge highlights the “ruthless” nature of the modern game. It shows a board that is no longer willing to wait for a turnaround that might never come. While Tudor is the man in the hot seat today, the shadow of the club’s ambitious search remains.
The supporters will be hoping that Tudor can provide the “new manager bounce” needed to pull them clear of the bottom three, but the long-term question of who will lead the club into the 2026/27 season is still very much unanswered.
For now, the focus shifts to the pitch. Tudor’s task is to take a squad that has lost its confidence and turn it back into a competitive unit. If he succeeds, he might just find himself moving from a temporary solution to a permanent contender for the job. If not, the hunt for a manager like Ferreira one who brings a winning culture and a clear philosophy will undoubtedly resume once the final whistle blows on the current campaign.
